Super 91.7 WMPH has become the first radio station in the country to take a stand against the Music First Coalition. Hopefully, this is the start of something much larger.
From the WMPH website:
The
National Association of Broadcasters is fighting efforts by
musicFirst, a new coalition of recording artists, including
Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, and Natasha Bedingfield, demanding
performance royalties from radio stations. "Congress has long recognized that radio
airplay of music generates millions of dollars in revenue for
record labels and artists," said Dennis Wharton, NAB spokesman.
"Were it not for radio's free promotional airplay of music on
stations all over America, most successful recording artists
would still be playing in a garage."
WMPH and many other stations across the country
are saying NO to this insatiable greed. The
musicFirst coalition of artists is attempting to hurt the
radio stations, disc jockeys, and fans that have always been
their greatest ally. Radio has done so much to promote their
careers by playing their music frequently, interviewing them,
and mentioning their concerts and events on the air. Artists
make their money by record sales and performing at concerts.
Without radio's free publicity for over 60 years, most artists
would likely be neither rich nor famous.
Hopefully this will open up airplay for smaller artists who appreciate what radio gives them. Most people aren't aware of this, but musicians do not pay to get their music on the air. It's all done for free. The radio station doesn't receive any payment for promoting the artists. These lobbying groups need to be stopped. These are the same people who sponsored the Feinstein-Graham PERFORM act (to gouge satellite providers) and the recent changed by the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) that will put an end legal internet radio though massive royalty rate increases (see www.SaveNetRadio.org).
Here's the good news: WMPH may be a small station, but their big action is getting some big attention. I'm keeping a list of sites that pick up the story.
06/20/2007
06/21/2007